Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum 13)

“We aren't going to kidnap you,” Ranger said. "And we didn't kidnap Peter Smullen. In

fact, we have some very bad news for you."

“Help!” she yelled. “Help! Help!”

Ranger looked at me. “You have any ideas besides shoot her?”

“I love your boots,” I said to her. “Vuitton, right?”

She looked down at the boots. Knee-high, black leather, stacked heel. “Yeah,” she said.

“They cost a fortune, but I had to have them. I got a bag to match. You want to see the bag?” “Sure.”

She went into the bedroom and came back with the bag. “This

is the shit, right?” she said. “It looks great on you. You can carry a big bag like that,” I told her. "It's a to-die-for bag.

And speaking of dying… Peter Smullen is dead."

“Waddaya mean, he's dead?”

“He was caught in a fire in a warehouse last night and he died. I'm so sorry,” I told her. “How do you know?”

"It was made public this morning/'

She was deer-in-the-headlights for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“He was identified by his wedding band and his key ring.”

"Sonovabitch. All that money and I was so close to getting my hands on it, and the jackass

had to get himself toasted in a fucking warehouse. Life is so unfair." Her eyes darted around

the room. “This apartment belongs to the law firm,” she said. "I need a truck! Do you have a

truck?"

“No.”

“We'll have to rent one.”

“Uh, actually, we have to be moving along,” I said. “Like to stay, but…” Ranger was at the door.

“Uncle Mickey lives across the hall,” I told her. “He can get you a truck.” I followed Ranger down the stairs and out of the building. I was about to get into the

Porsche when I spotted Joyce half a block away.

“Be right back,” I said to Ranger.

I jogged down to Joyce and leaned in her car window. “Peter Smullen is dead,” I said. "He

was killed in a warehouse fire last night. His girlfriend lives in that building we just left. She's

on the top floor. We couldn't get any information out of her, but you might want to try.“ ”Are you shitting me?"

“No. Swear to God.” I jogged back to Ranger and slid into the passenger seat. "I think I got

rid of Joyce for a while."